virilocal
Meaning
Of or relating to the custom of a married couple living with or near the husband's family or tribe.
Structure
Usage
Virilocal residence is a common practice in many patrilineal societies.
Their marriage followed a virilocal pattern, so she moved into his family's village.
The anthropologist studied the shift from virilocal to neolocal customs in the community.
Etymology
The term 'virilocal' is a modern anthropological compound, constructed in English from classical roots to describe a specific social custom. The first element, 'viri-', derives from the Latin vir (man, husband), a word of Proto-Indo-European origin (wiHrós) meaning "man" or "warrior." The second element, '-local', comes from the Latin locus (place). When combined, the literal meaning is "pertaining to the place of the man." This construction logically and directly encodes the practice where a wife relocates to the residence of her husband's kin group upon marriage, contrasting with other residence patterns like 'uxorilocal' (place of the wife) or 'neolocal' (new place).
Analysis
- viri: From Latin vir, meaning "man, husband." In this word, it functions as a combining form denoting a relationship to men or husbands. - local: From Latin localis, from locus meaning "place." In this word, it functions as an adjective-forming suffix meaning "pertaining to a place."